H.R. 5545

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require institutions of higher education to adopt a policy relating to the provision of advisers for certain students, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · September 23, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Brownley · Committee: Committee on Education and Workforce

Table of contents

• H.R. 5545
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Policy relating to advisers for certain students

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as Katie Meyer’s Law.

SEC. 2. Policy relating to advisers for certain students

• (a) Adviser requirement
  • (1) In general
    • In order to be eligible to receive funds under an applicable program, an institution of higher education shall adopt a policy relating to the provision of student advisers in accordance with paragraph (2).
  • (2) Policy required
    • The policy required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
    • (A) In general
      • In the case of a student who attends an institution of higher education and who receives notification of an alleged violation by such student of the code of conduct of such institution, such institution shall provide such student with the option to be assisted by an adviser in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (D).
    • (B) Notification
      • The notification described in subparagraph (A) shall include information with respect to the option of the student to—
        • (i) select an outside adviser; or
        • (ii) request that the institution of higher education provide an independent adviser.
    • (C) Provision of adviser
      • An institution may provide an independent adviser to a student through—
        • (i) a confidential respondent services coordinator;
        • (ii) an agreement with a student-based peer support program; and
        • (iii) an agreement with an alumni-based support program.
    • (D) Requirements
      • An outside adviser selected by a student pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (B) or an independent adviser provided to a student pursuant to clause (ii) of such subparagraph, as applicable, shall—
        • (i) be trained by such institution on the adjudication procedures of such institution relating to the alleged violation;
        • (ii) with written permission from the student, receive bi-weekly updates throughout the adjudication process; and
        • (iii) participate in the adjudication process—
        • as an advocate for the student; or
        • as authorized by applicable State law and title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (). 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.
  • (3) Definitions
    • In this subsection:
    • (A) Applicable program
      • The term applicable program has the meaning given such term in section 400(c) of the General Education Provisions Act (). 20 U.S.C. 1221(c)
    • (B) Institution of higher education
      • The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (). 20 U.S.C. 1001
• (b) Disclosure of campus security policy and campus crime statistics
  • Section 485(f)(1)(F) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 () is amended— 20 U.S.C. 1092(g)
    • in clause (iii), by striking and at the end;
    • in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
      • (v) incidents of suicide that were reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies.
    • by adding at the end the following: